Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

That is the sort of initiative that we should be promoting in this Chamber more and more, and that is where the Seanad really shows it strength.

I agree with Senator White on the need for a pre-budget debate and I have already called on the Leader to facilitate that. In that debate we need to examine fairly the issue of stimulus packages and the need for stimulus. Earlier this week a stimulus package was announced which went under the radar. I refer colleagues to it and ask that we would consider more measures like these in our debate in the autumn. This is the initiative of Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, in which she has allocated €10 million of funding this year alone and plans to allocate more funding over future years under the energy efficiency programme for local authority homes. This will have huge benefit in terms of stimulating the economy by creating jobs in retrofitting local authority homes. It will also have a knock-on effect of reducing energy bills for families and increasing our commitment to sustainable measures to combat climate change. On a number of levels this is an important package and it is the sort of measure that we should be looking at increasing in the coming budget. Even €10 million spent on a project like retrofitting existing local authority homes can have a hugely beneficial impact on local economies and the national economy.

I welcome the passage last night, by a decisive majority, of the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill. It was an historic day. I am very proud that this Government has finally after 21 years legislated to protect the lives of women. Many of the contributions in this House were excellent and we had in general very measured contributions by many Senators. Not to be harping on Senator White again, and apologies for focusing on her, but her contribution was strong in terms of acknowledging the failures of successive Governments, including Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Labour during those 21 years in failing to legislate until now.

I wish everyone well for the break ahead and look forward to a very dynamic few weeks of Seanad activity in September before the referendum on 4 October. It is up to all of us to make the case for Seanad retention and reform. The focus will be on this House in September like never before. We can all expect that. I look forward to a robust campaign in which we make the case very strongly, through our own conduct, initiatives and work we do in this House, for retention and reform of the Seanad.